Next&Bio, GC Cell launch joint platform to evaluate CAR-NK therapies using organoid models
Next&Bio, a Korean biotech platform company, is partnering with GC Cell to co-develop an advanced non-clinical evaluation platform for cell therapies using organoid-based microphysiological systems (MPS).
The collaborative research aims to overcome the limitations of traditional animal testing by enabling precise, patient-relevant assessment of CAR-NK cell therapies for intractable solid tumors such as pancreatic and biliary tract cancers.
The project has been selected for a national R&D program by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare titled “Development of non-clinical efficacy evaluation technology for advanced biopharmaceuticals using microphysiological systems.”
The two companies will jointly establish an in vitro efficacy testing platform leveraging patient-derived organoids and MPS technologies as part of the program.
Organoids are three-dimensional cell culture models derived from patient tumor tissues that replicate the genetic and biological characteristics of the original cancer.
Researchers can better assess how immunotherapy products behave in clinically relevant conditions when combined with micro-physiological systems—technologies that simulate the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) outside the human body.
"Unlike conventional animal models or 2D cell cultures, which fail to mimic the physiological complexity of the TME adequately, this new approach enables a more realistic and predictive analysis of therapeutic response, especially in solid tumors where the TME suppresses immune cell activity," said a Next&Bio official.
GC Cell, specializing in CAR-NK (chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer) cell therapies, brings its proprietary pipeline and engineering expertise.
CAR-NK therapies genetically modify natural killer cells to enhance their ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
Under the collaboration, Next&Bio will produce customized organoids that reflect individual patients’ genetic tumor profiles. At the same time, GC Cell will test its CAR-NK therapies on these models to verify efficacy and mechanism of action.
The companies believe this new testing paradigm could help set a new standard in preclinical development for cell therapies.
The partnership comes as organoid-based models are gaining global attention as ethical, efficient alternatives to animal testing.
In May, the U.S. FDA announced a policy shift to gradually phase out mandatory animal testing in drug development, highlighting a growing emphasis on human-relevant testing methods.
Traditional animal studies using rodents or primates have long been criticized for their high costs, long timelines, and ethical concerns. In contrast, organoids offer the potential to reproduce human physiological responses more accurately with fewer ethical constraints.